Lack of depth leaves Canadiens few options to improve
It's getting ugly in Montreal.
A 6-0 loss on home ice Saturday to the rival Toronto Maple Leafs was the latest blow for the Canadiens, losers of four of their past five.
That the team was unable to muster a goal, let alone find the win column, is even more surprising after coach Claude Julien uttered his embarrassment following Thursday's defeat to the dead-last Arizona Coyotes.
The loss to the Maple Leafs dropped the Canadiens' record to 8-11-2 on the season. The club is now five points removed from a playoff position.
While it's still early, and the Canadiens have nearly three quarters of the season left to right the ship, there are no assurances that a correction is around the corner.
The Canadiens can't score. Saturday's loss marked the fourth time Montreal has been shutout this season, and the team has found the back of the net more than twice just eight times.
That puts the Canadiens at 2.38 goals per game, ahead of only the lowly Buffalo Sabres (2.30).
To no ones surprise, fans are calling for general manager Marc Bergevin to bring in scoring help. But, the problem is, he has no trade chips to move.
The Canadiens have some interesting young pieces, likes Charles Hudon, Jacob de la Rose, and Michael McCarron, but none of which would return a prime piece in a trade.
Bergevin already moved his most valuable up-and-comer this offseason when he acquired hometown hero Jonathan Drouin from the Tampa Bay Lightning. And while Drouin has been a hit starring for the Habs, more help is needed.
Blame the Canadiens' poor performance at the draft table as a reason for their scoring woes. In the past 10 years, Montreal has selected just four players who have reached double-digit career goals, three of which remain with the franchise: Artturi Lehkonen, Alex Galchenyuk, and Brendan Gallagher.
While immediate help may not be around the corner, a transition to focusing on the future seems just as unlikely. Bergevin is signed through the next five seasons - as is Julien - but a poor finish to the season could leave him without an answer to ownership.
Heavy contracts to the likes of defensemen Shea Weber, Karl Alzner, and goaltender Carey Price, whose eight-year pact hasn't even begun, among others, also makes a major shakeup unlikely.
Simply, there are no quick fixes for Montreal, and possibly worse, the team appears to be stuck in the status quo.